Believe in Baltimore

Benji Newman

There is a consensus in this country. The Wire is considered one of if not the best television show to have ever been made. To many people, this show is the context for anything and everything that happens in Baltimore. When the riots started a few days ago, people looked to the shows creator, David Simon, for his view because to most of the country, the former Baltimore Sun reporter is the foremost expert on race issues and the police in the city. His advice to everyone rioting over the death of Freddie Gray, “Go Home.” (via http://davidsimon.com/baltimore/) For many, it has been and will continue to be difficult to imagine a version of the city that is different from the one the news and television have created, and people are too scared to visit. Many news outlets are projecting that these riots will hit Baltimore’s tourism industry hard, but you should not allow them to. There are two main reasons why you should go to Baltimore this summer: the city itself and “responsible tourism.”

The city is truly amazing. The Inner Harbor is Baltimore’s main attraction. With most of the cities great destinations and restaurants all located in this central district, it is incredibly easy to find something to do. From going to a baseball game at the historic Camden Yards or just relaxing with a drink at one of the many restaurants that sit next to the water, the possibilities are endless. For the literature buffs out there (or the horror enthusiasts) the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum is reopening this summer, allowing you to see the place where some of the greatest works of American literature were written. For those who just want to forget tenth grade English classes, there are plenty of art museums, which can be visited for free. The Walters Art Museum holds one of the best art collections in the country let alone Baltimore. The best thing to do though might just be walking around the Inner Harbor itself. With tens of millions of dollars put into the area as recently as the 1990s, this part of the city is truly spectacular.

Responsible tourism is not a term that is usually associated with traveling to major US cities. The concept is simple: travel to places that need it in order to exchange cultures and promote better lives for all. Cities or places that usually are thought of in this sense are those in the developing world. While you should also visit any of those countries for your next major travel excursion, you can help out a local part of the country by taking a cheap trip to Baltimore this summer. When people decide to not go to the city, the people they hurt are the people who are rioting. Those are the people who lose their jobs, which are vital to many. Plenty of people this summer will visit the Jersey Shore and Washington, DC, but going to those places won’t have nearly the same impact on their respective economies as visiting Baltimore will. As a country, our first thoughts on the city should not be McNulty and Bunk riding through West Baltimore trying to figure out murder cases or D’Angelo Barksdale sitting on the couch in the pit. The perception of the city as a dangerous place has only increased with the Freddie Gray riots, but that needs to change. Visiting the city and maybe doing community service while you are there or just talking with locals will not only help build the economy of the city, but also ensure that people have a more nuanced vision and connection with the Maryland city. As you start to make plans for this summer, be sure to include Baltimore on the list of places you want to see. 

Born and raised in the melting pot that is New York City, Benji Newman has always enjoyed being immersed in different cultures. He has studied, worked, and traveled all over Europe and hopes to visit South America in the near future. Graduating from the University of Michigan this spring, he will continue his studies in the fall by attending a Master's of International Economics and Affairs program.

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